Flooded roads, swamped cars: Police offer tips for staying safe

Three cars are stuck in high waters at the intersection of 28th and Division streets Wednesday, April 17, 2013 in Grand Rapids Mich. Heavy rain fell on West Michigan Wednesday afternoon, adding to already high waters. The area has been on a flood watch for a least a week. (Sally Finneran | MLive.com)Sally Finneran | MLive

GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- As heavy rainfall continues to leave many area roads flooded, police are reminding drivers not to test a vehicle's ability to make it through standing water.

Many open manholes across the area, buried by water, could damage vehicles, even if cars make it through the water itself, Grand Rapids Police Lt. William Nowicki said.

Nowicki said police had been able to keep up Thursday morning, April 18, with road closures. Officers placed barricades in dangerous areas or stood by to warn drivers until barricades were available to put in place.

However, if a vehicle is stuck in water, Nowicki said, do not abandon it. Stay inside and call for help — using good judgement to determine if that is safe — or stay nearby if you must leave the vehicle. Kent County dispatchers may be reached through a non-emergency number: 336-3113. Abandoned vehicles will be towed.

Jerry Byrne, Kent County Road Commission director, was keeping a close watch on a list of flooded roads closed to traffic Thursday morning. The list seemed to change about every "five minutes," he said, as drain systems caught up with heavy rainfall.

"People just need to realize when there's water over the road, they need to enter at their own risk," Byrne said, noting barricades are in place across the county.

A crew of about 125 commission workers will be out on area roads throughout the day, monitoring conditions, he said.

At times of heavy rainfall, it is especially important for area residents to keep track of storm drains and driveway culverts, Byrne said. Wood chips and other debris have clogged drains in many areas, spilling rainwater over into streets.

"Folks need to really take care of themselves and take care of their neighbors," Byrne said. "We may have flooding on roads that have never flooded before."